Anne Pallett and the local Lib Dems are working hard to get the current plans for the Eastern Gateway changed.

The developers’ proposals will add hundreds of houses to the town but won’t bring the benefits local people want to see. Too many of the houses will be unaffordable for local people.

“Local families need homes they can afford, hundreds of more houses that local people can’t afford is not what Soham needs,” says Anne.

Anne pictured above at the allotments on Kents Lane describing the plans for the proposed Eastern Gateway development.

Following the resignation of Liberal Democrat Councillor, Victoria Charlesworth, a by-election has been called in Soham North for Thursday 23rd September.

Local campaigner and Soham resident Anne Pallett (pictured above), has been selected as our candidate.

Anne has a strong track record as an effective campaigner on local issues that matter, whether it is helping to get the local skateboard park and football goals installed at the towns recreation ground or campaigning to put Soham residents first not developers, she is committed to working hard for local residents.

“I want to help create a youth centre in Soham, teenagers in Soham need more to do and the poor bus service means they can’t easily get back from Ely or Cambridge in the evening. Young people in our town need somewhere they can meet safely and I want to help create a facility they can use” says local campaigner Anne Pallett.

The by-election was called due to Victoria moving to the Midlands, Victoria resigned to make sure that residents had someone local and hard-working to stand up for the town.

“I am delighted to support Anne Pallett, an active campaigner who gets things done for Soham. Anne has a strong track record helping to get better play and sports facilities for young people here and she is the best person to represent Soham residents on the council” said Victoria Charlesworth

Anne believes it’s time for change and is standing for the council in order to stand up for residents interests and will be the strong voice that they need to represent them on the council.

“ I am standing for council to put local people first and I hope you will give me your support on Thursday 23rd September”

There is no doubt that last year’s changes to the layout of the BP roundabout on the A10 at Ely have made the junction even more dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists.

Crossing the A10 and A142 at this point has always been difficult. But the new layout means people travelling on foot or by bicycle are taking their life in their hands. Some residents are already telling us they are stopping their children cycling to school as it’s now just too dangerous.

The Conservative approach would mean waiting a decade. They say that dualling the A10 will include a safe crossing at this junction, solving these problems at a stroke. But no funding has been offered, let alone guaranteed, for such a scheme - and the overall plan will cost half a billion. Such a scheme could easily take ten years or more to complete.

Liberal Democrats in East Cambridgeshire have ensured the District Council will back a Local Electricity Bill currently making its way through Parliament.

On 16 July, Cllr Mark Inskip (Lib Dem, Sutton) proposed to East Cambs’ Full Council meeting that the Council should support the cross-party Bill, which would enable local renewable energy generators to sell their electricity to local customers.

The Bill would make the setup and running costs of selling electricity to customers more proportionate to the size of the supplier. Councils and local community co-operatives could then become providers of locally generated renewable electricity directly to local people, businesses and organisations.

A Liberal Democrat move to increase affordable housing in rural parishes in East Cambridgeshire is set to be backed by Conservative councillors tonight.

A motion from the Liberal Democrats to the Council meeting on Thursday (22 October) includes a call for the Council’s Finance & Assets Committee to examine the potential for the Council to apply for them to be formally designated as a rural area so that they can have greater influence over housing developments. Where parishes have been designated as a rural area the District Council can set for itself the point at which a housing development must make a contribution to local affordable housing needs—opening up the possibility of more affordable homes in small villages.

Some of the East Cambridgeshire District Council Lib Dem group after being denied the chance to scutinise the Council's trading companies

East Cambridgeshire District Council’s Liberal Democrat Group, consisting of 13 of the 28 councillors on the council, has issued an open letter concerning the governance of the Council’s trading companies, and in particular East Cambs Trading Company Ltd (ECTC).

The published accounts of ECTC disclose losses of £3/4m. We are concerned that the finances of ECTC, its business plans and the governance of the company place both East Cambridgeshire District Council and the residents of East Cambridgeshire at risk of serious financial loss.

Breaking

'Faceless bureaucrats' blamed by Ely Folk Festival for banning traditional Morris and molly procession through the city's market place

Ely Standard 30 June 2019

https://www.elystandard.co.uk/news/faceless-bureacrats-under-fire-by-ely-folk-festival-organisers-1-6134045

In response to the threat by East Cambs Markets not to allow the traditional parade through Ely Market Place, the Liberal Democrat Councillors wrote the following to the District Council expressing their concern that the 22 year old parade would not be able to go ahead.

In response, the District Council are now planning a meeting with the organisers to try and find a solution. 

newly elected Liberal Democrat councillors for Ely North Alison Whelan and Simon Harries at the MOD site in Ely.

Liberal Democrats on East Cambridgeshire District Council are calling for half the soon to be refurbished MOD homes in Ely to be affordable.

A significant number of those affordable homes should be for rent, they add, in a motion they have submitted for debate at the Annual Council Meeting on 30 May.

The local team that puts Ely North residents first

The local team that puts Ely West residents first